One year ago, we dared hope for an invincible treble but it seemed impossible, even the greats never achieved it. The Lions lost home and away to Dundee United in season 1966-67, while we achieved the treble on only two other occasions. When Tom Rogic dinked a 90th minute winner in the Scottish Cup final you and I knew the level of achievement.
At that point, 2017 went down in our history as a year bettered only by 1967. 2003 came close, but season 2002-03 is remembered fondly for its endearing frailties. Celtic were simply peerless as they secured the club’s fourth treble.
With half of season 2017-18 complete, the first leg of what would be an unprecedented second successive treble is complete, but signs are clear that this team peaked some months ago, despite qualification for the Europa League knockout rounds.
Aware of the exceptional (from a Scottish perspective) demands on his players of completing in every round of cup competitions, a dozen European games and international football, Brendan Rodgers has rotated his squad this season more than any previous Celtic manager. While this was doubtlessly the correct action, performances inevitably took a hit when our two exceptional and experience strikers were watching from the side-lines. In football, you often need to take a backwards step to make long-term gains.
This didn’t really bothered me. I liked watching Odsonne Edouard, Anthony Ralston and Calvin Miller. Being able to win the league while developing talent in this manner is one of the few benefits of being stuck in a small league.
Ultimately, even our top performers struggled to raise their game. Defeat eventually arrived, a timely signpost for the club as they plan ahead.
You and I have studied the structure of the club for many years. We have never known it to be as stable. Income last season topped £90m, the first time it reached this level, and with a fair wind, it could reach nine figures this season.
These riches come with fresh risks. Wage levels have rocketed in line with performances. We can afford our current operating levels – and can even afford an occasional reversal in the Champions League qualifiers, but there is a misalignment at the heart of what we are doing.
In his opening transfer window, Brendan added Moussa Dembele (who was already on the Ronny Deila target list) and Scott Sinclair. Both made a phenomenal contribution to the success which followed. This season, with Scott struggling to recapture his earlier form and Moussa hampered by injury, the big contributions have come from players who were at the club under the Ronny regime. Indeed, of the Celtic team which ended the year, only Olivier Ntcham was a Brendan Rodgers signing.
What we have added since the summer of 2016 is management expertise. Brendan took Ronny’s squad to levels none of us thought possible, but only two of his signings are automatic first-choice.
This is not necessarily against plan. When you sign French youth internationals like Ntcham and Edouard you do not expect them to immediately displace more experienced players. Players do not mature at the same rate – Kieran Tierney got their earlier than Kenny Dalglish, so if the plan is to recruit the best French and Scottish youth talent, patience will be required.
Notwithstanding this, Brendan will want to have more of his own signings grabbing starting slots in the big games. The players who were there under Ronny have made Herculean progress, but that invincible treble was their high point.
On that front, Lee Congerton joined in March as chief scout, a few months after the phenomenally successful John Park era ended. Scouting is as much about relationships as judgement and the environment is not conducive to friendship-making. Park’s job became increasingly difficult, despite his encyclopaedic knowledge of players sound judgement. Over his tenure, the Celtic proposition became comparatively less attractive.
The mere fact that Brendan Rodgers is manager changed this. Moussa didn’t sign for Ronny in January 2016 but put pen to paper for Brendan six months later. It is the job of Lee Congerton to make the most of the Celtic proposition, Brendan Rodgers and Champions League football to deliver players that can push us further in the Champions League.
Nothing of significance has changed in our chances of escaping our playing environment. We will remain in Scotland until at least the bubble inflating football incomes elsewhere bursts, most significantly of all in England. Within months the next England and Wales Premier League TV rights auction will conclude.
Premier League audiences have dwindled since the last rights were issued but Sky TV’s entire existence is predicated on winning a significant portion of these rights. The Premier League is trying to attract bids from Amazon and Facebook, so it is possible rights values could increase despite falling audience figures. But we can hope.
Until then, our role in the world is to dominate the life out of our domestic rivals, qualify for the Champions League and continue to add to the unique story of Celtic.
I loved every minute of being a Celtic supporter in 2017. It was thrilling, captivating and inspiring. Whatever it brings, your club will be an exciting place over the next 12 months. Enjoy it.
Take care and thank you for all your support. I hope you each have a Happy New Year and healthy 2018.
NEW CQN PODCAST OUT NOW! CHRISTMAS JUMPERS FOR GOALPOSTS
Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by Celtic authors, Stephen Sullivan and Stevie Murray for a special festive episode – Christmas Jumpers for Goal-Posts.
Stephen Sullivan is a former Celtic View reporter who wrote the much-lauded Sean Fallon biography, ‘Iron Man’. He is now the editor of FIFA.com.
Stevie Murray has now written two books on Celtic – ‘Ten Men Won The League’ and ‘Kenny of the Celtic’ – and he is a respected and authoritative voice on the club.
Treat yourself to a signed copy of Jim Craig – Right Back to 67 and you will receive a copy of That Season on Paradise signed by Bertie Auld, just order the Jim Craig book at CQNbookstore.co.uk and we’ll do the rest…
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Happy New Year from the Sunny Mornington Peninsula in Australia.I really enjoy some of the thoughtful and interesting posts.Some of the analysis on games I don’t agree but everyone is entitled to their opinion.Keep up the good work in supporting our beloved club.Sincere Best Wishes to you all. HAIL HAIL -Paddy
Gerryfaethebrig
Tell the wee yin well done the weemhan is talking gibberish now and will be sleeping ing mins ::::::::
I Grateful for people being here when I log on, It is a,special place is our CQN.
Thank you paul67CSC
Happy new year everyone!! Let’s hope for another Treble.
P67: As an Irish Bhoy, many thanks for giving us this platform to express our Celticness.
Tapadh leat, GRMA, Diolch yn fawr.
TONTINETIM
First year I was in London we all had a pre-Christmas bev.
(I’d suggested we have the Christmas do in February,plenty of parties in December. Didn’t end well,Westminster Yacht Club got trashed. Fortunately I saw the hooray henrys about to kick off and fled the coop before it happened.)
Lot of dismissals on the Tuesday.
Anyway I wished everyone well and told them I’d see them on the third of Jan.
Second,says my boss. Third,says I. It’s a Bank Holiday. Not down here it isn’t.
Aye,well,I won’t be down here,I’ll still be in Scotland. So it’s a Bank Holiday.
To Paul67, Bloggers, Lurkers and to your families I wish you all a peaceful 2018.
To Celtic FC I wish you continued success in 2018 and to a second consecutive treble…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Happy New Year to all.
It’s always a good time to reflect. I’m trying hard to be better at life. That’s my New Years resolution. Whatever it means.
More love. More truth. Less hate. More forgiveness. Less grudges. But the love and the truth invite a certain amount of hostility. More truth and love required any way.
Keep the faith comrades in celtic.
Lennybhoy 12.48pm
Hope you and the family have a terrific 2018 ☘️
All the best to you and yours Lennybhoy
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 1ST JANUARY 2018 12:51 AM
LEFTCLICKTIC on 1ST JANUARY 2018 12:53 AM
And to you Bhoys and yours…
Coatbridgemafiacfc…
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
After a total bollocks December personally, glad to see the back of it :O)
Happy new year to everyone else on CQN
The Huddle hope 2018 blows your rubbish December out of the water
Watching the Priclaimers programme always sort of liked the Hibees but need to admit Sunshine on Leith is pretty dam amazing :-)
Happy New Year to all,
We gather here tonight to celebrate the passing of the Old Year and welcome in the New Year,
The Celts who celebrate Samhain use that night to mark the New Year.
HH
Happy New Year to Celtic supporters the world over. May 2018 be just as special as last year, the best since 67.
PADDYMACOZ
I spent a coupla days trawling my mails trying to find your addy,but finally gave up and sent the response to your marvellous gift to MELBOURNEMICK,rather than both of you.
I asked him to forward it to you.
Lovely shirt,lovely letter,lovely guys. You honour me.
Make sure you have a wonderful 2018, and mibbe if my numbers come up,I can join the illustrious crew like Ms Cowiebhoy,Ms Eddiefromkilpatrick,Master Almore.
And get bevvied wi what seems a right good buncha lads!!!
HH guid Tim.
Happy New Year fellow CQNrs and Tim’s everywhere
BMCUWP-You are most welcome mate,absolute pleasure meeting our visitors.Eddies daughter was at the game on Saturday.I don’t think I’ve met a young lady like her.She loves the Celts and belts out the songs.We are most fortunate to live in such a beautiful place,it would be great if you ever managed to get out.I might talk to old Mick he’s minted but then again I have enough trouble getting him to buy me a pint never mind financing a flight.Well its oot for us now for a wee New Years day refreshment.Keep well-Paddy
Happy new year to everyone.
Jamiroquai – (Don’t) Give Hate a Chance…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LHj_WC_IzFc
HH
PADDYMACOZ
I would never dream of scrounging a flight,dinnae be daft.
But I’ll tell ye what,if I travelled aw that distance,and the tightwad didnae buy me a pint,I’d be mildly miffed.
And helluva surprised!
SomedayonedayCSC
Here’s to the other hoops,which you,my Dad,my Uncle Jim did proud. And heres to not kicking the ball over the wall and into The Garnock because ye got booked.
Jingle Bells was Christmas,Dad. But that should ring a bell!!!!!
Faithless – Crazy English Summer…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D4YIvscVUac
Happy New Year Bobby.
Hail Hail
The Stone Roses – One Love…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=60qyfdcAOGE
Just watched the Proclaimers programme as well. I like them; unorthodox twins in specs wi baws.
Sunshine on Leith is undoubtedly the finest love song thats been writtten for a football club. I too, I must confess, have a soft spot for the Hibs, me ould Ma being from the Leith Irish.
It has been sorely tested though through some encounters with specific fuds, countered by friendship with others who – for example – have been at the forefront if trying to get James Connolly the recognition he deserves in his own town.
But my Fathers people were Glasgow rebs, and thats where my love will lie till I’m gone
Still wish we had a song like that
JIMMYQUINNSBITS on 31ST DECEMBER 2017 8:51 PM
Bobby,
thanks, always been a big Dylan fan. Ian Bell, he of the James Connolly lineage, wrote a cracking biography of him – like most talented folk, not sure he’s a person I’d get on with, but a great song writer no doubt
******
Personally,I think it would depend on his mood,and that’s nae use in company. We all stand on the shoulders of giants,but gimme a guy wi an ego and he can GTF.
KnewhisfaitherCSC
2017 brought me some of thee most unbearable lows. However, it also brought an incredibly fantastic new wife Minx1888 and the best year that I’ve ever had as a Celtic supporter. To Helen, Brendan, the players and the fantastic Celtic support, up the Rebels!
HT
God bless you both and may your future be blessed!
Oh and a Happy New Year!
JIMMYQUINNSBITS
In the 80s,I would meet my Heart’s fan mates in the Haymarket,have a good time and go our separate ways.
My Hibs fan mates,we’d take turn about which end we went in to.
Aye,there were some arses on both sides who took exception,didnae last long.
Best one was early 90s,me,my Dad and my kid sis at Love St,in the days of the old terraces. A fella had his wean perched on his shoulder,and the abuse he was hurling was a hunner times worse than I could ever manage. Even if I’d been told I wasn’t being served at last orders!
We decided we’d move at half-time after I’d talked my Dad out of stiffening the eejit-canny dae that,Dad,he’s got a wean wi him.
Next thing-and I’m not making this up-a fella makes his way down beside us,tells him…
Haw,p…k,we’ve huda whiproon,here’s a tenner tae f..k off.
Honestly,I wish I knew who our saviour was,cos I owe him a beer. And I’ll even give him the tenner!!!
Happy New Year to my fellow Tims and God bless you all!
Special thanks to our host PAUL67 for putting up with us!
Take care!
Bobby,
Its a fortunate one that isn’t a slave to his moods. I’d have liked a drink with him, and would hope to learn, but have little patience these days for certainty.
Anyway you, my friend, have been a shining beacon on this site for as long as I can remember. Your character is consistent in your posts and its a credit to you.
Happy New Year to you and the family and to everybody on here.
Special mention to KevJ, who’s hammerin posts I might not always agree with, but we need a hard conscience to keep us honest
HH
HAMILTONTIM
Keep on keeping on,mate. And let the lovely Minx know that I love her nearly as much as I love you,guid Tim.
Actually,her wee smile edges you out. Second prize. Still a result,if you think about it(!)
Philbhoy
Many thanks sir I hope you, the missus and young O have a fantastic year.
BMCUW
Thank you Michael. God Bless and Hail Hail.
HAMILTONTIM
Thanks mate!
Lots to look forward to!
Take care and God bless!
HT!
I remember when it was first announced about you and the Minx. It made me smile then and still does now
Ya lucky git
PHILBHOY
HAPPY HOOOOOOPY NEW YEAR to the luckiest guy I know. But one who certainly earned that luck.
You know the rest,all I can wish for you is that the wee yin gets the reward that she has worked so hard for.
Which,btw,goes for for the daughters of CRC and BT,and everyone else facing the pressures of life-changing decisions when they’re not even old enough to smoke,drink,or vote.
Philbhoy,
Another wan when I was a newcomer… told me to calm down, and was good advice – unusually – from you ;)
Ould Packy is gone now- the ould charscters are droppin like flies
JIMMYQUINNSBITS
Oh,I’m very much slave to my moods anaw. As you say,we all are.
I like to think that my wee toys out the pram moments are short,if far from sweet. But tell you what,see when it’s not in your nature and it still comes out,thats when you remember the sackcloth and ashes of your youth,as you self-flagellate yerself to bits!
And hurriedly,clumsily,apologise.
But since I love an animated discussion,I must be a masochist. Or a f…..g idiot. I’ll go for the latter. You can spend ages making friends,yet lose them in a sentence. Ain’t worth it,is it?
A happy ,healthy and prosperous new year to all fellow cqn’rs from an infrequent poster
HH COYBIG